Box Score

CALIFORNIA, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team fell, 53-52, at California (Pa.) Saturday afternoon. Keith Lowe converted a three-point play with 5.5 seconds left to give the Vulcans a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division victory.
 
The Lakers rallied from a 49-39 deficit in the second half to go ahead, 50-49, in the final minutes. After a Cal free throw, Luis Leao hit a turnaround jumper in the lane to take a 52-50 edge with 1:05 remaining. Cal committed a turnover on its next possession.
 
Mercyhurst missed a foul shot on its trip, setting up Lowe, who drove down the left side and scored with 5.5 seconds to play. The senior was fouled and connected on the ensuing free throw for a one-point lead. The Lakers inbounded to Jonathan Ouegnin, who passed across the court to Terrence Ingram. Ingram dribbled to the left elbow and lofted a jumper, but the shot went long and Cal escaped with the win.
 
Edinboro beat Clarion Saturday, setting up a crucial game on Wednesday. The Fighting Scots host Mercyhurst at the McComb Fieldhouse. Mercyhurst and Edinboro are tied for fourth place at 12-9 in the PSAC. The winner of Wednesday's contest will host a rematch in the first round of the PSAC Tournament on Saturday, March 2.
 
Cal led, 28-23, at halftime, and kept a single-digit margin for much of the second half. Tynell Fortune's third three-pointer of the second period gave the hosts a 49-39 with 5:19 left.
 
Leao carried the Lakers back into the game after that. Leao drained a trey and Callon Dailey made a steal and a layup. Leao followed with a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to three with 3:27 to go. The senior scored inside at the 2:48 mark to inch closer. Cal split two foul shots on its next trip and Leao continued his hot stretch with another basket, tying the contest at 50 with 2:02 remaining. After making a steal, the Brusque, Brazil, native sank a jumper for the Lakers' first lead of the half.
 
Ingram hit the first shot of the game as the teams traded points in the early going. Neither team led by more than two points until Quentin Harding made a layup for a 12-8 advantage with 13:36 to play. The home team held a slim edge until Andy Hoying hit a jumper and Ingram drilled a triple to go up, 16-15, with 9:17 left.
 
The teams went back and forth from there, as the lead changed hands eight times in the first half. Ingram hit a three at the 3:02 mark to put the Lakers ahead, 23-22, but Cal scored the final six points of the frame to take a five-point halftime lead.
 
A layup and a three-point play by Paul Bilbo cut the lead to two, but the Vulcans quickly regained control, going up, 36-28, six minutes into the half. The margin volleyed between three and nine points until the home team went up 49-39 on Fortune's trey.
 
Leao finished with 16 points. Ingram posted 12 points and four steals, while Bilbo and Dailey each added eight points. Ouegnin dished out five assists and made four steals. Weedon led Cal with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Harding recorded 12 points and seven boards.
 
The Lakers shot 20-52 (38.5 percent) from the field, while the Vulcans hit 20-41 (48.8 percent) of their tries. Cal outrebounded Mercyhurst, 35-22, but the Lakers forced 22 Vulcan turnovers.  
 
Mercyhurst dropped to 16-11 overall and 12-9 in the PSAC. Cal is 11-14 overall and 10-11 in the league.